Impact of isotonic and hypertonic saline solutions on mucociliary activity in various nasal pathologies: clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of nasal irrigation with isotonic or hypertonic sodium chloride solution on mucociliary clearance time in patients with allergic rhinitis, acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis.


METHODS
Mucociliary clearance time was measured using the saccharine clearance test on 132 adults before and after 10 days' application of intranasal isotonic or hypertonic saline. Patient numbers were as follows: controls, 45; allergic rhinitis, 21; acute sinusitis, 24; and chronic sinusitis, 42. The results before and after irrigation were compared using the Wilcoxon t-test.


RESULTS
Before application of saline solutions, mucociliary clearance times in the three patient treatment groups were found to be significantly delayed, compared with the control group. Irrigation with hypertonic saline restored impaired mucociliary clearance in chronic sinusitis patients (p < 0.05), while isotonic saline improved mucociliary clearance times significantly in allergic rhinitis and acute sinusitis patients (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Nasal irrigation with isotonic or hypertonic saline can improve mucociliary clearance time in various nasal pathologies. However, these solutions should be selectively prescribed rather than used based on anecdotal evidence. Further studies should be conducted to develop a protocol for standardised use of saline solution irrigation in various nasal pathologies.
Ural
A
A
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. ahmetural2001@yahoo.com
Oktemer
T Kocak
TK
Kizil
Y
Y
Ileri
F
F
Uslu
S
S
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D012965:Sodium Chloride